10 outcomes we'd like to see from NCASC22

 10 outcomes we'd like to see from #NCASC22

1. To reduce pressure on social care waiting lists, encourage people to self assess. Keep a diary for two weeks, send it in and it can be used by assessors to work with people to do an assessment and also care plan.

2. Allow assessors to approve plans and cost them, save time and money by not going back and forth via supervisors/MDTs. If problems occur, more training needs to be provided.

3. Care Act sec 1 principles to be embedded in all stages of social work. This is the start and end point. Processes should be assessed against the principles including socio-economic principles. 

4. Look at impact costs of care charges to authorities, see if it is actually costing more than making. If so stop law does allow you not to charge.

5. Support/promote personalisation, make it more than words. Enhance work on allowing personal budgets. Assist, offer support, train people via ULOs to self support and manage. You can save 50% care agency costs by dong this.

6. Reassess only when requested or changes occur, streamline paperwork, this can be done by email/phone. Use light touch methods as per statutory guidance.

7. Reduce complaints via introducing quick process as envisaged in original statutory guide. A three week process. Ensure staff training of law and updates on case law, which regularly happens. Too much time is wasted by staff not knowing the law. 

8. Ensure co-production is clear and understood (involve lived experience at every stage). Ask people with lived experience for help with allocating responsibilities, actions and determining timeframes. They are a valuable resource. 

9. Stop using budgets to argue back and forth as to who pays (NHS/Housing/Authorities/LA). The time and cost increases due to this. Bring in ethos of not just counting spend, but calculate savings to systems if done differently and put these forward as evidence. For example, when purchasing equipment the cost of ordering delivery, contracting and commissioning can be huge. Would it be cheaper to supply the money via personal budget, and let the user buy the item themselves. 

10. Let's start being positive about the services, people who work in and use social care. Too much emphasis on things being broken, and woe is me, no money. Encourage enthusiasm, support staff and people with innovation. We can make things better. If you only focus on money, you will only spend up to what you have, it is never enough...